SRC-TAG H.C.R. 103 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.C.R. 103
By: Eiland (Jackson)
Health & Human Services
5/21/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST

The State of Texas is concerned about the use of certain antibiotics such
as chloramphenical, nitrofurans, and other banned veterinary drugs in
imported shrimps and other seafood from other countries like China,
Thailand, and Vietnam that can cause severe toxic effect in humans,
including hypoplastic anemia, which is usually irreversible and fatal.   

Currently, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspects only
two percent of all seafood imported into the United States and uses a
testing procedure that cannot detect the presence of chloramphenicol below
one part per billion.  Although the FDA tests of imported food did not
detect chloramphenicol in shrimp from China and other countries in 2002,
independent testing performed by or for Alabama, Florida, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Texas detected chloramphenicol in samples of imported
shrimp from those countries at levels harmful to human health.
Furthermore, United Statesbased companies involved in the importing and
processing of shrimp are opposed to the use of chloramphenicol and are
working with the domestic shrimp industry and the FDA to develop effective
protocol, including in-country testing, certification foreign testing
facilities, and other means to detect banned antibiotics and to exclude
all tainted products from the United States markets.  

PURPOSE
 
Resolves that the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby express
concern about the presence of chloramphenicol, nitrofurans, and other
banned veterinary drugs in imported shrimp, the potential adverse impact
on the safety of the food supply, and the resultant risk to human health,
and call for the FDA to continue working with both importers and domestic
stakeholders to develop effective methods of excluding seafood imports
containing chloramphenicol, nitrofurans, and other banned veterinary
drugs; 
 
Resolves that the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby call for
immediate and focused actions by the United States government to improve
the enforcement of food import restrictions on seafood imports containing
chloramphenicol, nitrofurans, and other banned veterinary drugs in order
to ensure the safety of the food supply and to protect consumers in the
United States and, in particular, in Texas.